With long to-do lists and never-ending errands to run, women are only left with fleeting moments to take care of themselves. While we agree that men also do equally important work and shoulder responsibilities, women are consistently found to be feeling overburdened with responsibilities.
Irrespective of whether you’re working a nine to five, running a business, nurturing a family or working towards your goals, the time and energy you expend on all the tasks should be followed up with some time being spent on the most important person in your life, you!
When was the last time you took care of yourself?
Now, we’re not talking about taking off on a trip, heading to the salon or anything elaborate, we’re talking about paying attention to the needs of your mind. Let’s understand the main reason as to why you need to do this more often than you do already do. Think of your mind like it is a car. If you’re going to go for a long drive when the fuel tank is empty, you’re only going to get stuck somewhere in the middle. In the same way, your mind and body need to re-fuel itself and you’re
the only one who can dedicate some re-fuelling time for yourself!
For most of us, self-care remains a distant dream but it’s now time to make this dream, a reality.
Here’s how we can do this.
1) Repeat after me, “Self-Care is not Selfish”
The first step is to tell yourself that it’s okay to prioritize self-care, at least sometimes. Very often, women feel like taking care of themselves means that they’re being selfish. One thing to remember here is you can never pour from an empty cup. Give yourself a break and indulge in some self-care.
2) Explore Yourself
Explore different things that you enjoy doing. Whether it’s a day at the spa or just a few hours of 'me-time'; at home, you will only get to know yourself better when you try out different things. Learn to bask in your own company and enjoy it.
3) Make Self-Care a Routine
Change your thoughts about self-care being a ‘sometimes’ thing. Fit self-care into everyday life, for example, set a morning or evening self-care routine for yourself. It could be something as simple as, half an hour of exercising, meditation or even completely disconnecting from technology to allow yourself some mental space.
4) Reflect at the End of Each Day
At the end of the day, most of us go to bed drained of energy, feeling like we’ve only been working all through the day without paying heed to everyday things. In such a case, make it a point to jot down at least three good things that happened on a particular day. Writing this down will put you in a better mood and help you feel more fulfilled towards the end of the day. You can read this book/ journal when you’re feeling the blues.
5) Change the Way you Talk to Yourself
When was the last time you looked in the mirror and gave yourself a smile? Do we only smile for Instagram pictures now? The next time you’re standing in front of a mirror, take a moment to just be there and take a look at yourself. Give yourself the attention you deserve and tell yourself that you’re doing great. Transforming the way you talk to yourself will make a world of a difference to the way you talk to others, too.
6) Make a Bucket List
Make a bucket list with all the things you want to do. This could include your travel goals, your goals towards learning a new skill or even just stepping out of your comfort zone. When it’s a dull day at work, take five minutes off to pull out your bucket list. Plan out the next thing you want to tick off from the list and how you're going to do this. This will take your mind away from work
stress for a bit and give you a chance to look forward to something fun.
This Women’s Day, make a promise to yourself. Tell yourself that you’re going to commit to taking care of yourself, just the way you take care of others!
Written by: Vrushti Oza